Attorney Ian Matthew Pickens's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Alachua County Violation of Probation Charge Dismissed

Jan 16, 2020

OUTCOME: Violation of Probation Dismissed

On January 2, 2020 a violation of probation affidavit was filed, alleging that the probationer had screened positive for alcohol on December 4, 2019. The affidavit as well as violation of probation rep ... ort indicated that the probationer entered his plea and was placed on probation on January 7, 2019. The affidavit and report also noted that the end date of probation was January 6, 2020. A warrant was issued for the probation on January 7, 2020, which lead to his arrest on January 16, 2020. The driver hired Meldon Law. The attorney reviewed all the violation reports and warrant, noticing that the warrant was signed one day after the probation period end date. The attorney filed a motion to dismiss the violation of probation arguing that the court did not have jurisdiction to proceed forward with the violation charge. The motion was granted at a hearing, the client’s probation was terminated, the violation of probation charge was dismissed, and he was release from custody that day.

DUI and DWI

Gainesville Driver has License Suspension vacated

Jan 05, 2020

OUTCOME: The Hearing Officer later issued an order setting aside the license suspension.

An officer from the Gainesville Police Department observed a red truck parked in the median on NW 34th Street. The officer approached the vehicle and found that the driver was asleep, and the vehicle w ... as running. The officer attempted to wake the driver up. Eventually officers were able to wake the driver up and have him step out of the vehicle. The officer noted the driver smelled like an alcoholic beverage and the driver stated he was leaving a bar in midtown. Another officer responded to conduct a DUI investigation. That officer noticed the driver had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The officer asked if the driver would participate in Field Sobriety Exercises which the driver agreed to perform. The officer stated that he observed the driver to have horizontal gaze nystagmus at maximum deviation, as well as prior to the onset of 45 degrees. The driver was ultimately placed under arrest and asked to provide a breath which he agreed to provide. The driver provided two samples .160 and .164. The driver hired Meldon Law. The attorneys at Meldon Law filed an application for a Formal Review Hearing through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (DHSMV) to challenge the basis of the driver’s license suspension. During the hearing the attorney from Meldon Law made a motion to invalidate the license suspension and also objected to the breath test affidavit based on an improper notary.

DUI and DWI

Alachua County Driver has License Suspension vacated

Nov 21, 2019

OUTCOME: The Hearing Officer later issued an order setting aside the license suspension.

An officer from the University of Florida Police Department observed a Jeep travelling on Stadium Road. The vehicle turned onto Woodlawn Drive then west on S.W. 2nd Avenue. The officer stated that he o ... bserved the vehicle drifting in its lane of travel and cross the lane divider. The vehicle then turned onto S.W. 34th Street, where the officer noticed that the vehicle was travelling below the speed limit. The officer then conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver. The officer noticed that the driver had bloodshot eyes and had to ask multiple times for the driver’s insurance card. The officer had the driver step out of the vehicle and asked her to participate in Field Sobriety Exercises which the driver agreed to do. Ultimately, the driver was arrested for DUI and transported to the Alachua County Jail to provide a breath sample which the driver agreed to provide. The two breath samples were .134 and .132. The driver hired Meldon Law. The attorneys at Meldon Law filed an application for a Formal Review Hearing through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (DHSMV) to challenge the basis of the driver’s license suspension. During the hearing the attorney from Meldon Law made three motions to invalidate the license suspension based on a lack of reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop the driver’s vehicle, lack of reasonable suspicion to detain the driver and finally a motion to invalidate based on issues with the breath test. DISCLAIMER: The results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the clients’ cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client’s case.

DUI and DWI

Marion County DUI Charge Reduced

Oct 16, 2019

OUTCOME: Charge was Reduced to Lesser Offense

An Ocala Police Department Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for failing to stop at a stop sign. While the officer was writing multiple civil traffic citation, a K-9 officer responded to th ... e scene and conducted an open-air sniff on the vehicle. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle. As the driver was exiting, she admitted that marijuana was in her purse, additionally officer located a pipe as well. Another officer responded to the scene as well to conduct a DUI investigation. The officer stated he observed blood shot and watery eyes, an odor of alcohol and that the driver exhibited horizontal gaze nystagmus. Ultimately, the driver was placed under arrest and asked to provide a breath sample which she did and was below the legal limit of .08. The driver hired Meldon Law. After reviewing the case and then spoke with the prosecutor regarding a potential suppression issue and send over a motion to suppress. The attorney was then able to negotiate a resolution that resulted in the DUI charge being reduced to a reckless driving offense and was able to further negotiate a withhold of adjudication on the possession of marijuana offense which allowed the defendant license not being suspended. Additionally, the attorney was able to have both civil traffic citations dismissed as well.

Criminal defense

Marion County Firearm Charge Dropped

Sep 13, 2019

OUTCOME: Case Dismissed

Ocala Police Department Officers responded to SW 27th Ave in reference to a suspicious person who was potentially engaging in illegal activity. Upon arrival the officer made contact with the defendant ... and pulled him aside from the other people present in the area. The officer asked the defendant if he would consent to a search of his persons, which the defendant agreed to do. While searching the defendant the officer located two firearms, one was located him his hip, while the other was located in his back pants pocket. The defendant was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail. Later the State Attorney’s Office File one felony charge against the defendant for carrying a concealed firearm. The defendant hired Meldon Law. The attorney at Meldon reviewed the discovery and found that the defendant had a concealed weapon permit and that the permit was in evidence at the police station. The attorney met with the evidence and photograph the license and provided that information to the prosecutor. Based upon confirming that the information valid the charge was dropped.

DUI and DWI

Gainesville DUI Charge Reduced to Lesser Offense

Sep 12, 2019

OUTCOME: Charge was Reduced to Lesser Offense

A Gainesville Police Department Officer responded to a traffic crash near the 2200 block of West University Ave. While on scene the first officer requested a DUI specialist come to the location of the ... accident, after he noticed the driver was unsteady on her feet and smell an odor of alcohol. Upon arrival the officer stated he observed the driver’s eyes to be bloodshot and watery and notice the driver swaying. After the completion of the traffic crash investigation, the officer asked the driver to perform Field Sobriety Exercises, which the driver elected not perform. Ultimately the driver was still placed the driver under arrest for DUI, then transported to the Alachua County Jail to provide a breath sample which the driver refused to provide. The driver hired Meldon Law. The attorney reviewed all the reports and videos in the case. The attorney was then able to negotiate a resolution that resulted in the DUI charge being reduced to a reckless driving offense by pointing out potential defenses and evidentiary issues. Additionally, the attorney was able to further negotiate a withhold of adjudication so there was no formal conviction of an offense.

Ian Matthew Pickens's Legal Cases (6)

Alachua County Violation of Probation Charge Dismissed

Gainesville Driver has License Suspension vacated

Alachua County Driver has License Suspension vacated

Marion County DUI Charge Reduced

Marion County Firearm Charge Dropped

Gainesville DUI Charge Reduced to Lesser Offense